November 1, 2013 by Darlene

@TeamRunnerd

If you use Instagram, it’s not too late to join the Runnerd Photo-A-Day Contest.

Anyone who posts at least 15 days in November will receive an oval runnerd sticker.

Don’t forget to tag @teamrunnerd on all your posts!

Everyone who posts every day will be entered into a drawing for the item of your choice (up to $25 value) from the Runnerd Shop. There will be two winners selected by random.org. These winners will each receive a runnerd keychain.

There will be three category winners, one for each of the following:

most creative
funniest
most runnerd

The nominees will be selected by @teamrunnerd and then voted on by you!

Happy Running? Will you be joining? You can follow me @dsc59

November 1, 2013 by Darlene

NYC This Weekend

No, I’m not running or spectating the NYC Marathon.

But I am having a college roommate reunion tomorrow.

Judy, me & Andrea in 2010 (I had just finished a 5k, of course.)

My friend Judy and her husband are driving down & I hitched a ride rather than taking the bus.

If I get to go to Central Park will depend on traffic… and time. (Since the park is on the opposite side of Manhattan, it doesn’t look good.)

map of all the running paths

So far, we are meeting their daughter, Danielle, and our college friend Andrea in Chelsea Market for lunch.

Green Table is Danielle’s pick.

After lunch, we are planning to walk on the High Line.

always wanted to go here.

Eventually Danielle will leave to catch a flight back to LA.

It should be a fun time for the 3 of us to catch up. The weather is predicted to cooperate.

I usually go to NYC with my tennis friends just to see a Broadway show. I am excited about this itinerary.

Perfection would be if I could run in Central Park. I’ll have to return for that.

Happy Running! Do you ever go to NYC? If so, what do you do there?

October 31, 2013 by Darlene

October Recap

Still running and still healthy! YAY!

october-month-halloween

OCTOBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! YES

in the neighborhood before work

rail trail runs

park runs

Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!! YES, 3-4 days each week.
Start daily planks! NOT EXACTLY. I did a few.
Attend a yoga class! YES, I went to 2…it’s a start!
Complete a half marathon. YES!!! Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon.

Run at least 2 other races. YES!! Race for the Cure 5K and Monster Scramble 10K.

Race for Cure 5K

Monster Scramble 10K

Continue running longer on the weekend. YES!!
Nisky Bike Path for long runs
Run at least 50 miles this month. YES!! 70!

back to healthy running

Unfortunately boating season on Lake George ended. But we had quite a few good fall weekends.

It was also a theatre month. I went to NYC to see Matilda on Broadway and saw Les Miserables TWICE locally.

October was also a month for eating out in restaurants. I usually do not eat out much. But this month I ate out quite an inordinate number of times and in new restaurants:

Helsinki in Hudson, NY

Barrettas in Warrensburg, NY
Smiths in Cohoes, NY
Glass House Tavern in NYC
The View in Lake George
Milanos in Latham (3x)
Recovery Room in Albany
Hidden Cafe in Delmar
Caseys in Rensselaer, NY (this one was not new)
Burger King (not new obviously)

I am playing tennis on a regular basis since I am in 2 half contracts. So, it is no longer a goal. This month I played 6 times!! I find it more a social thing. I like the ladies I play with but it is doubles so not that much of a workout. However, I am sometimes annoyed that I have to schedule my running around it. So far, I haven’t done both in one day.

Now that boating and half marathon training is done, I was able to get together with my mentee, Amanda and her sons. We went on our annual excursion to Ellms Family Farm.

NOVEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!!
Start daily planks!
Attend 2 yoga classes!
Complete a 15k race.
Run at least one other race.
Continue running longer on the weekends.
Run a new route.
Run at least 50 miles this month.

Happy Running! How was your October? Anything exciting planned for November?

October 30, 2013 by Darlene

Wordless Wednesday

my new ones

Happy Running! How often do you buy new running shoes? Do alternate pairs or just wear one at a time?

October 29, 2013 by Darlene

Running Updates on Tuesday

Last Week:

Monday – 2 mile walk, Chili/Dessert Cook Off at work, tennis after work

6 different chilis and 4 desserts to sample

Tuesday – tennis after work
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, dinner out with a friend

am run in the neighborhood

Thursday – workshop, lunch out, 3 miles after work

run in the Crossings

the Crossings and new shoes

Friday – REST, mah jongg at my house
Saturday – 7 miles

cold windy run on the Corning Bike Path

Sunday – REST, day at Ellms farms with my mentee & her sons

This Week:

Monday – lunch out, 3 miles after work
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, dinner and movie out with friends
Thursday – lunch out, 3-4 miles after work or before work

Friday – REST
Saturday – day in NYC, ??? miles?, walk on the Highline

The Highline…always wanted to go here!!

it’s the day before the NYC Marathon…maybe I’ll bump into a famous runner…this is about as close to running it as I’ll ever get!!

Sunday – 8 miles?
Monday – DAY OFF (run if I didn’t get my long run done on Sunday.)

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any upcoming races? Ever run in NYC?

October 28, 2013 by Darlene

Love to Run?

Yes, I do and guess what I did today??

I made an impromptu decision and registered for another race.

While running up a hill during the Helper’s Fund 10K, I chatted with a runner named Heidi. We then became friends on Facebook and she encouraged me to register for this race. The lowest price deadline was today so I had no time to think about it.

Hence, I will be running a half marathon in Philly on March 30, 2014! Yikes! (At least Heidi registered too.)

ABOUT:

Philadelphia introduces The Love Run. The City’s newest, premiere Spring half marathon. Your love of running combined with all the great sights and sounds you love about Philadelphia.

NON TRADITIONAL PERKS:

VANITY (TAGS) BIBS
Always wanted a vanity tag? Now you can have it. Put your message on your bib whether it’s your nickname, a cause or your name (boring). That’s the spirit!
COMMEMORATIVE COFFEE MUG
Every finisher gets a celebratory coffee mug, filled with some sweet treats, to be used at the Finish Line Coffee & Hot Chocolate Bar. “I LOVE to finish”
FREE RACE PHOTOS
Now that’s enough to make anyone smile.

TRADITIONAL PERKS:

Superior performance technical shirt
Unique Finish Medal
Free Training Plans
Finish line party featuring our new Coffee & Hot Chocolate Bar

My tentative plan is to fly out early Saturday, March 29 and fly back late Sunday, March 30. This destination race is just a race…no vacation!

Now I will be motivated to train in the COLD winter NE weather.

Happy Running! Anyone want to join me?

October 27, 2013 by Darlene

Mentoring and a Day on the Farm

For 5 1/2 years, I have been mentoring Amanda. (I got paired up with her in a program (that has since lost funding) called Mentors & Moms. Unfortunately, with working and running & other social things, I haven’t had the time to see her as much as I’d like.

Recently Amanda has been depressed. She cannot work her job as a EMT (because of the hours) and is working in store for minimum wage. She just broke up with her boyfriend (and baby daddy) whom she had been with for 3 years. She is all alone trying to survive and take care of her 2 sons. (Richard is almost 7 yrs old & in first grade, Matthew is 2.)

Every fall we go to Ellms Family Farm which has a lot of things to do for kids – games, rides, mazes, etc. So today was the date we settled on. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t as nice as the past few weekends. (I selfishly gave my weekends to running and boating 😦 )

In fact, it was downright COLD!!! And windy and cloudy and it even sprinkled at times. But we made the best of it. We went on every ride and in every maze. We had lunch and bought pumpkins.

Eventually when we couldn’t stand the cold anymore, we headed for the mall. We walked around, I bought the kids new sneakers. Then we had dinner at Burger King.

we all felt like this at the end.

We all had fun and I really need to spend more time with them. (However, she already found a new guy. I actually like this one, though).

Happy Running!

October 26, 2013 by Darlene

What Happened to Indian Summer?

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Last weekend, I was dressed like this:

Today I pulled out my capris, fleece vest, windbreaker, fleece headband and gloves.

I am trying to still do longish runs on the weekend. So I headed for the Corning Preserve where I finished my half marathon 2 weeks ago.

and sweating in a tank top

It was very windy and in the 40’s. Since I ran 6 miles last weekend, the plan was for 7 today. 3.5 out and then back. The path which is usually full of runners and bikers was pretty empty. Too cold!!!

I wore my new Brooks and I was cruising on the way out. On the way back, it was a different story. Walk…run…walk…run. Blech but I was running into the wind.

7 cold, windy miles done!

Well, I better get used to this weather. It’s just going to get colder!

Happy Running! Do you like running in the cold weather?

October 25, 2013 by Darlene

Foto Friday

Here are some FALL photos:

The Delmar Rail Trail:

Christmas tree decorated with leaves?

full moon

Lake George:

leaving the marina

at West Dollar Island

at Commission Point

looking back at the marina

Schroon River:

I have gotten pretty lazy. I only take pictures with my iPhone. It is easier than carrying a camera (especially while running) and quicker to upload to Instagram or Facebook or this blog.

Of course, a camera does take better quality pictures.

Happy Running! Do you take photos with your phone or with a camera?